How to Clean CDs

Introduction

Dirty CDs can skip or just stop playing. For best results, use a CD cleaning fluid and anti-static cloths made for cleaning CDs. If these tips don't help you might have to buy another copy of your CD, but first try it in another player because some CD players are more sensitive than others to scratches.

By: eHow Electronics Editor

Length: 1:07

Comments: 26

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Instructions

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Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Tips & Warnings:

You can also use a soft, lint-free cloth or smooth, unscented toilet paper with the CD cleaning solution.
Household cleaning products, including alcohol, abrasive cleaners, petroleum-based products, ammonia and commercial plastic cleaners, may harm CDs.
Scrubbing, polishing and buffing may also damage CDs.

Step1

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for using a cleaner. In any case, put the cleaner on your cloth first, not on the CD itself.

Step2

Hold the disc by its edges and center hole.

Step3

Use an anti-static cloth to wipe across the CD with your other hand.

Step4

Work from inside to outside in straight lines, not circles.

Step5

Wipe until the CD is clean and dry.

Comments

Jackie77 said

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on 11/27/2007 The first thing to try is toothpaste. Toothpaste with baking soda works good but normal will work too. Put the toothpaste on with you finger and move from center to the edges. Dont go in a circle or it could cause more scratches. Then just wash it off with warm water and wipe with cotton or linen.

If this doesnt work then take vaseline or car wax and apply center to edges. This gives it an oil coat thus temporarily fixing the outer layer laminante or hte CD. After applying it wipe it off with a cloth. Don't rinse.

If you get it to work, which you should if you do those methods, then quick burn the CD because those fixes are only TEMPORARY.

mythman said

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on 9/3/2007 I don't know WHAT I was thinking, scrubbing in circles! I see now that I might as well you WIRE-FOAM if I keep doing that! Thank you for waking me up as only Jessica Tingley can!

ccorpc said

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on 9/2/2007 Thanks for your nice advice!!! It will be very useful to take a piece of cotton cloth to do the job.

kinnay said

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on 8/19/2007 Dishwashing Liquid and Pillowcases - Squeeze several drops of dishwashing liquid onto a plate of midly warm water. Submerge the CD (holding it by the center or edges) and swish it around some. Wipe it from the center out using a high thread count pillowcase (250+) that has been folded over several times. Repeat soaking and wiping until the foreign substance has been visually removed (I got rid of chocolate in this way with excellent results). Rinse the newly cleaned CD with warm water right from the tap, and pat it dry using another pillowcase (not the same you used to wipe the CD while it was soaking with detergent). Wipe from the center outward to get rid of the remaining droplets.

Anonymous said

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on 8/29/2006 Seriously. I looked through all these comments and toothpaste was the one which showed up most often. So I tried it. I wiped toothpaste all over the surface. I waited about 30 - 60 seconds. Then I wiped it off with my previous (failed) distilled water and dish detergent solution. Then I dried it. Popped it into the CD ROM drive and one of the two files I was trying to transfer copied successfully. So, I repeated the whole process and even wiped the toothpaste with the grain (which, yes, is a big no no, just be sure to wipe against the grain when wiping the toothpaste off). This time, the second file transferred successfully. I would be turning back flips if only I could.

By the way, using an old cotton T-shirt is a great substitute for linen. Virtually no lint or fibers stick to the CD.

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